Be Yourself

MARK EDWARD CLAYTON

Unique individuality is one of our God-given rights. Why, then, do some people try to act like others instead of just being themselves? It is possible that these people think that others are more cool or smarter than they are. This kind of thing is very subtle error.

When I was in seventh grade, I felt that I was not popular and nobody was really interested in me. I tried being like the popular guys. It just didn't work. Then I realized that the reason these particular guys were popular was that they didn't try to be like someone else. They were Christian Scientists, and tried to express God's qualities directly and not just copy another person. They had real individuality.

After that I decided to relate myself more closely to God because God is pure individuality. He is Soul, the source of all identity, of what makes us different from each other. "Man is the expression of Soul,"^{Science and Health, p. 477;} writes Mrs. Eddy. And the Bible says, "Now are we the sons of God."^{I John 3:2.} From then on, my experience was much more rewarding.

It's a form of jealousy that makes us want to be like someone else. What people need to realize is that man reflects all of God's qualities in a unique way. Christ Jesus was a unique individual. And the study of Christian Science will bring out our own individuality.

Right now one person may seem to reflect a certain quality to a great extent, while another doesn't reflect that same quality fully but may reflect another quality to a greater extent than the first person. What we must all try to do is reflect God more fully instead of trying simply to copy another person.

If we see ourselves and others as distinct individuals, we will stop trying to be a poor imitation of someone else. We'll be glad to be ourselves.

[Mark actually wrote this last year when he was in the eighth grade.]

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